World AIDS Day Posted on December 2, 2014 by Philadelphia FIGHT December 1st is World AIDS Day. On this day, we unite in the fight against HIV, support the people that are living with HIV, and reflect on the people whose lives have been most affected by HIV/AIDS. Today we commemorate people who have died as a result of complications with AIDS including activists, peer educators, family members, friends, and others. Today, we are grateful for the people in Philadelphia that were instrumental in the continued success of the AIDS Library and Philadelphia FIGHT, and crucial to the FIGHT against HIV/AIDS across the globe. Click here to learn more about the history of the AIDS Library. Click here to learn more about the legacy of Activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya. Here are resources, including many freely available curricula and lesson-plans, that you can use to educate about HIV/AIDS. For more information, please browse other posts on our blog. If you have any specific inquires, please contact Megan Threats at mthreats@fight.org IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles we have in the library that could help an educator create an HIV/AIDS education class or program, or to supplement such a class or program. INTRODUCTORY CURRICULA The New York City Department of Education’s HIV/AIDS Curriculum is available in its entirety. It’s broken down by grade, from K through 12. That page also includes brochures and letters for parents (available in 11 different languages) of kids who are being educated. The Washington State Department of Education publishes the KNOW Curriculum, including materials in Spanish. The Population Council publishes a book of curriculum and activity materials, It’s All One, developed by the International Sexuality and HIV Curriculum Working Group, available to download freely. It’s also available in Spanish and French. The Hispanic leadership organization ASPIRA has an extensive HIV Curriculum with facilitator scripts, activities, and other tools. The entire curriculum is available in Spanish as well. The British non-profit AVERT has an HIV/AIDS Lessons and Activities webpage, as well as pages for: HIV/AIDS quizzes (and quizzes on sex ed, condoms, and pregnancy)A dynamic web-based HIV/AIDS game The United Church of Christ publishes a Curriculum for Multicultural Christian Education, with particular focus on grade school youth. Partners in Health publishes an HIV Curriculum, with a strong emphasis on international health, human rights, TB co-infection, and women’s health. Stanford University’s Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education TeachAIDS Educator Handbook: A Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention Curriculum. UNAIDS sponsors a Grassroot Soccer Skillz Curriculum, aimed at teens. Topics include making healthy decisions, avoiding risks, building support networks, reducing stigma and discrimination, increasing knowledge about testing and treatment, and addressing gender issues. MORE SPECIFIC CURRICULA The Vermont-based Center for Health & Learning has six pages of Curriculum Activities that Support the Use of HIV Positive Speakers. The Journal of the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care published an Adaptation of a Curriculum Targeted at Older African-American women. The UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies has a page of Intervention Curricula, including a program for people living with HIV, a harm reduction program aimed at middle schoolers, a prevention program for men who have sex with men, and an adherence program for HIV+ homeless people. The Northwest Association for Biomedical Research has a multimedia HIV Vaccine Curriculum that explores the life cycle and structure of HIV, different vaccine types, and related ethical issues. The CDC’s HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis Project has a page of “Best-Evidence” Interventions. Folks designing programs can read about them there. Be aware, though, that many of the materials for these interventions are not available for free. The CDC publishes guides for educators and administrators developing HIV/AIDS education programs. These are not curricula, but advice on creating and evaluating curricula. Adolescent and School Health: Sexual Risk Behavior Guidelines and StrategiesHandbook for Evaluating HIV EducationThe Eleven Elements of Successful Prevention Programs EDUCATING HEALTH PROVIDERS AIDS Education is for the pros too! The AIDS Education & Training Center provides targeted Education Programs for Health Providers treating people living with HIV. They have slide sets and full curricula on adherence, cultural competence, testing, “prevention with positives,” women, and many more topics. Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative, in collaboration with the National Institute of Health, UNICEF, and PEPFAR, provides a 376-page HIV Curriculum for the Health Professional. Family Health International has a training manual for health professionals on Contraception for Clients with HIV. The International Training & Education Center for Health provides materials to support the development of International HIV Health Programs. CURRICULUM SUPPLEMENTS For people who are designing their own program or curriculum, but want supplements, there are materials to draw on all over the web. For facts about different aspects of HIV/AIDS, we always point to a few different sets of factsheets (short documents that summarize a topic). For factsheets on the epidemic in the United States, see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Factsheets page.For factsheets on the epidemic around the world, see the UNAIDS Factsheets page.For factsheets on the nature of the virus, its transmission, and its treatment, see the University of New Mexico’s AIDS Info Net.For factsheets specifically on HIV prevention, sorted by demographics, risk behaviors, and more, see the University of California, San Francisco’s HIV Prevention Factsheets. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a page of AIDS Info Graphics and an AIDS Awareness Toolkit. The PBS series Frontline has a documentary called The Age of AIDS that’s available to watch online. It’s four hours long, but it’s broken up into chapters that could be good for showing to classes or groups. The TEACH program at FIGHT has a YouTube channel of educational videos on many HIV/AIDS topics. The United Nations AIDS Multimedia Gallery has a collection of videos (including PSAs), photo slideshows, and audio presentations and interviews, mostly focusing on the epidemic worldwide. UNAIDS also publishes a current Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic with more charts, slides, graphics, and multimedia materials. The website Annenberg Learner publishes many HIV/AIDS Animations and Images on its Rediscovering Biology page. The Kaiser Family Foundation has a Global HIV/AIDS Timeline. AVERT has a History of AIDS with an extensive list of news and journal articles for each era of the epidemic For a collection of news articles about HIV/AIDS going back to 1983, see the New York Times AIDS/HIV page. If any of these sites use terminology that’s unfamiliar, we recommend the National Institute of Health’s searchable HIV/AIDS Glossary. The glossary is also available in Spanish.
National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Posted on March 19, 2015 by Philadelphia FIGHT March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day is observed annually to highlight the impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls. In 2013, one out of five new HIV infection diagnoses were among women and girls over the age of 13. HIV/AIDS remains a significant health issue for women and girls, who comprised 23% of the people living with HIV in the United States in 2011. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), African American and Latina women continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. The rate of HIV infection among African American women remains the highest among all women – 19 times that of white women, and 4 times that of Latina women. There have been encouraging trends about HIV among women: The rate of HIV diagnoses among adult and adolescent women decreased from 8.3 per 100,000 in 2009 to 6.9 per 100,000 in 2013, due in part to a 21% reduction in the number of HIV infections among African American women from 2008 through 2010. Here are resources, including many freely available fact sheets, that you can use to learn about HIV/AIDS and its impact on women and girls. IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles we have in the Library (for more titles, search our catalog here) BOOKS A Place Called Self: Women, Sobriety, and Radical Transformation, Stephanie Brown, Yvonne PearsonA Woman’s Guide to Living with HIV Infection, Rebecca Clark; Jill Hayes Hammer; Robert MaupinBaking Cakes in Kigali, Gaile ParkinDoes Your House Have Lions?, Sonia SanchezHealth First!: The Black Woman’s Wellness Guide, Hilary Beard; Eleanor Hinton HoytHey, Shorty!: A Guide to Combating Sexual Harassment and Violence in Public Schools and on the Streets, Girls for Gender Equality, Joanne Smith; Mandy Van Deven; Megan HuppuchOur Bodies, Ourselves: a New Edition for a New Era, Boston Women’s Health Book CollectivePositive/Negative: Women of Color and HIV/AIDS: a Collection of Plays, Imani Harrington; Chyrell BellamyPush, SapphireRedefining Realness: My Path to Womanhood, Identity, Love & So Much More, Janet MockSistahfaith : Real Stories of Pain, Truth, and Triumph, Marilynn GriffithSurviving HIV/AIDS in the Inner City: How Resourceful Latinas Beat the Odds,The Black Women’s Health Book: Speaking for Ourselves, Evelyn WhiteThe Kid, SapphireThe Naked Truth: Young, Beautiful, and HIV Positive, Marvelyn Brown; Courtney MartinThe Secret: Love, Marriage, and HIV, Jennifer HirschWhipping Girl: A Transsexual Woman on Sexism and the Scapegoating of Femininity, Julia SerranoWomen’s Experiences with HIV/AIDS: Mending Fractured Selves, Desiree CiamborneYes Means Yes!: Visions of Female Sexual Power & a World Without Rape, Jaclyn Friedman; Jessica Valenti DVDs 3 NeedlesBorn in FlamesFor Colored GirlsGiaGirl PositiveHoliday HeartLife SupportRentYesterday THE BASICS For a brief introduction to this issue, see the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Women and HIV/AIDS in the United States For a longer introduction, see: MedlinePlus’ HIV/AIDS in Women The Body’s HIV/AIDS Resource Center for WomenNam Aidsmap’s HIV & WomenThe Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Women and Girl HIV/AIDS Awareness Day For statistical introductions, see: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s webpage on HIV among Women – for basic factsheets, podcasts, and other resourcesNew Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center’s Women and HIV SPECIFIC ISSUES For considerations of HIV/AIDS and pregnancy/reproductive justice, see: HIV/AIDS and Pregnancy, a comprehensive resource including factsheets, videos, and links to additional resources by Medline PlusHIV and Gynecological Care, factsheets with information including HIV and menstrual cramps, yeast infections, cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, pelvic inflammatory disease, and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)HIV and Pregnancy, a report by the American College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsPregnancy and Childbirth, by AIDS.govPregnancy and HIV, by New Mexico AIDS Education and Training CenterPreventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV after Birth, a factsheet by AIDSinfoReproductive Justice and HIV, a factsheet by the Positive Women’s Network-USAUnspoken: Sexuality, Romance, and Reproductive Freedom for Women Living with HIV in the United States, a report by Positive Women’s Network-USA For considerations of HIV/AIDS among African American Women, see: Black* Women and HIV/AIDS: Findings from Southeast Regional Consumer and Provider Focus Group Interviews, an issue brief by the National Alliance of State & Territorial AIDS DirectorsRyan White Providers Address HIV/AIDS among African American Women, a report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services AdministrationWomen and HIV/AIDS, review this page by Avert featuring information about HIV/AIDS among African American womenTransgender People and HIV/AIDS, review this page by Avert featuring information about HIV/AIDS among African American transgender women For additional resources, contact the AIDS Library of Philadelphia FIGHT.
Employment Resources Available at Philadelphia FIGHT Posted on August 1, 2013 by Philadelphia FIGHT Searching for employment can be a daunting task. Philadelphia FIGHT offers several resources that may be useful for job seekers. Be sure to contact the AIDS Library at library@fight.org if you would like additional information about any of the resources spotlighted in this post. Please make sure to call each program directly to check eligibility in order to participate in the services highlighted below. IN THE AIDS LIBRARY Here are some titles that we have in the AIDS Library that could be helpful for job seekers. Job interview preparation: Job Interview Tips for People with Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: How to Put Red Flags Behind You to Win the Job, by Caryl and Ronald L. KrannichNetworking and Interviewing for Jobs, by Ronald C. Mendlin Resume and cover letter tips and examples: Resume, Application and Letter Tips for People with Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: 185 Tips for Landing the Perfect Job, by Ronald L. KrannichBest Resumes and Letters for Ex-Offenders, by Wendy S. EnelowGallery of Best Resumes: A Collection of Quality Resumes by Professional Resume Writers, by David Noble Job hunting advice and tips for retaining employment: Job Hunting Tips for People with Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: 101 Smart Steps That Can Change Your Life, by Ronald L. KrannichJIST’s Putting the Bars Behind You Series: Instructor’s Resource Manual, by Ronald C. MendlinThe Job Loss Recovery Guide: A Proven Program for Getting Back to Work — Fast!, by Lynn JosephThe 2004 Philadelphia County Assistance Office Employment and Training Programs, by Philadelphia County Assistance Office Tips for navigating the workplace: Managing AIDS in the Workplace, by Sam B. PuckettAIDS in the Workplace: Legal Questions and Practical Answers, by William F. BantaAIDS Issues in the Workplace: A Response Model for Human Resource Management, by Dale A. MasiGay Issues in the Workplace, by Brian McNaughtPublic Library Services for the Poor: Doing All We Can, by Leslie Edmonds Holt and Glen E. HoltAIDS and the Public Workforce: Local Government Preparedness in Managing the Epidemic, by James D. SlackAIDS in the Workplace: Employee Attitudes and Perceptions and the Impact of Educational Programs, by Vincent Gerard KownackiReturning to Work: A Helpful Guide, by the AIDS Law Project of PennsylvaniaYour Rights in the Workplace, by Barbara Kate Repa Educational resources for job seekers: McGraw Hill’s GED: The Most Complete and Reliable Study Program for the GED Tests, by Patricia MulcroneThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to Computer Basics, by Joe KraynakOffice 20013 All-in-One Desk Reference for Dummies, by Peter WeverkaOffice 2007 for Dummies, by Wally Wang DVDs exploring HIV/AIDS and employment: All of Us – Documentary about two women struggling with the social factors that put them at risk for HIV.Philadelphia – Fictional account of an HIV-positive man challenging discrimination (set in Philly!). INSTITUTE FOR COMMUNITY JUSTICE Employment Resource Guide The Society for Employment and Equal Rights of the Institute of Community Justice publishes a resource guide for formerly incarcerated people seeking employment in the Philadelphia area. The resource guide includes: Job searching tipsJob training for people with a criminal recordInformation about staffing agencies and part-time workCompanies that have hired formerly convicted peopleComputer access resourcesTips for creating a resume Download the Employment Resource Guide 2014 [PDF] To open the PDF, you need Adobe Reader. Click here to download Adobe Reader for free to download Adobe Reader for free. To get copies of the printed and bound Employment Resource Guide, please Contact Us. The Institute for Community Justice offers two comprehensive programs that may be useful for job seekers in Philadelphia. Access to Recovery Life Skills Program When: Every Thursday, 2-4pmWhere: Institute for Community Justice21 S. 12th Street, 7th Floor (Between Market and Chestnut)Philadelphia, PA 19107 Details: This course consists of 9 classes and some topics covered are setting goals, violence prevention, parenting, and stress management. For more information contact Akua at (215) 525-0460 ext. 403 Access to Recovery Career Development Workshops When: Every Thursday, 11am-1pmWhere: Institute for Community Justice21 S. 12th StREET, 7th Floor (Between Market and Chestnut)Philadelphia, PA 19107 Details: Come learn various career development skills including – Resume creationTips for keeping a jobEntrepreneurial skillsInterviewing skillsUsing a computer for your job searchCompleting online job applicationsOvercoming a criminal record and getting employed CRITICAL PATH PROJECT Career Development – Job Readiness Classes (ENROLLMENT REQUIRED) Call 215-985-4448 ext. 279 to enroll in this course. Classes meet on Monday and Wednesday afternoon for 2 hours over an 8 week period Details: Enroll in this class if you would like to learn valuable career development skills including: Writing a great resume and cover letterInterviewing skillsLearning how to understand job descriptionsResearch potential employers Special Note: You must have some basic computer skills to enter this class. In addition to valuable job and computer skills, students that enroll in the class will also: Leave with both a hard and digital copy of their new resume, cover letter, and thank you letter for future updates and changes2 SEPTA tokens at the end of each sessionA certificate of completion at the end of classA graduation party Please be on the lookout for the next installment of our employment series! The next post will feature employment resources available for job seekers in the Philadelphia, PA area.